JCK moves winter show to Phoenix

October 3, 2002byHedda Schupak

Officials of the JCK Show ~ Orlando have confirmed that beginning in 2004, the winter Show will move to Phoenix, Ariz. The 2004 event will be held Friday, February 6 through Sunday, February 8, at the Phoenix Civic Plaza.

The change does not affect the 2003 JCK Show ~ Orlando, which will be held February 2-4, 2003 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

The move had been rumored for months, but show officials did not want to confirm the news until plans were finalized with the convention facility in Phoenix.

Dave Bonaparte, vice president of the JCK Shows, said, “Realizing that time is precious to both exhibitors and buyers, this move creates a contiguous opportunity for buyers to take care of their total merchandising needs for the coming season. Strategically positioned to coincide with the AGTA GemFairÔ in Tuscon, another cornerstone event, The JCK Show ~ Phoenix signifies a benchmark occasion for the jewelry industry—a comprehensive winter market destination in Arizona.”

The 2004 JCK Show ~ Phoenix dates overlap slightly with AGTA’s Tucson fair, which is scheduled to run from Wednesday, February 4 to Monday, February 9. Beginning in 2005, however, the JCK Show ~ Phoenix will be scheduled to run prior to the opening of the Tucson show, officials said.

Douglas Hucker, executive director of AGTA, says his organization hopes the JCK Show’s move to Phoenix will bring even more attention to the AGTA Gemfair in Tucson.

“Strategically, if they [JCK] feel that the show will function better there, we support them. If the shows can generate some synergy, and make things easier on retailers and manufacturers and people who have a reason to go to both shows, it makes sense.

“Arizona is a great place to go in February, we’d certainly like to see more new buyers come to Tucson, and if it [the JCK Show in Phoenix] means there’s a reason for a retail jeweler in the Midwest to say ‘This looks interesting. I think I’ll try it out,’ that will be good for both shows.”